Santa Monica and Venice Beach sit just two miles apart, but they couldn’t feel more different. One gives you wide beaches, a historic pier, and a polished boardwalk. The other throws you into a gritty, colorful mix of street performers, murals, and Muscle Beach. A santa monica and venice beach tour lets you experience both without wasting half your day figuring out parking, routes, or what’s actually worth stopping for. That’s time better spent soaking in the coastline.
Whether you want a guided bike ride along the Marvin Braude path, a walking tour through the Venice canals, or a private vehicle experience that covers more ground, there are solid options out there for every budget and group size. At Another Side Tours, we’ve spent years helping visitors navigate LA’s best neighborhoods, including this iconic stretch of coast, so we know what separates a forgettable sightseeing loop from a genuinely great tour.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the best Santa Monica and Venice Beach tours available in 2026. Each pick includes what you’ll see, how you’ll get around, and who it’s best suited for, so you can book with confidence and skip the guesswork.
1. Another Side of Los Angeles Tours Santa Monica and Venice Beach Tour
Another Side Tours offers a private guided experience that covers both Santa Monica and Venice Beach in one well-paced trip. Your guide handles everything from route planning to contextual storytelling, so you spend your energy engaging with the neighborhoods rather than navigating them. This is the most thorough, lowest-friction option on the list.
What you’ll do and see
Your tour covers the Santa Monica Pier, the Third Street Promenade, and the beach path heading south toward Venice. Once you reach Venice, your guide walks you through Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the Venice Canals, and the Venice Beach Boardwalk, including the outdoor muscle gym that has anchored the neighborhood since the 1950s. You also get stops at notable murals and local spots that most visitors walk straight past.
Your guide explains why these neighborhoods developed the way they did, so you leave with actual context, not just photos of places you half-recognize.
Best for
This santa monica and venice beach tour works best for first-time LA visitors who want to see both areas without spending hours deciding what to skip. It also fits well for groups who want a private experience rather than a shared bus tour with strangers.
Here’s a quick breakdown of who gets the most out of this tour:
- Couples and families who want a relaxed, personal pace
- Small groups looking for commentary that goes beyond the basics
- Business travelers with limited time who want to see the coastline efficiently
- Visitors who have already done the tourist loop and want a deeper look at local culture
Duration and logistics
Tours typically run 3 to 4 hours depending on the route and how long you linger at each spot. Your guide provides private vehicle transportation, so no pedaling or rideshare coordination is required. Pickup is available from most LA hotels, which keeps the day simple from the start.
Typical pricing in 2026
Pricing starts at roughly $75 per person for smaller group formats and goes up based on group size, vehicle type, and any custom additions. Private group bookings for three or more people often come out to a better per-person rate, so it’s worth asking about group pricing when you reserve your spot.
2. Guided Electric Bike Tour from Santa Monica to Venice
A guided electric bike tour gives you the coastal path experience with less physical effort than a traditional ride. The electric assist handles the headwind off the Pacific, so you arrive at each stop feeling fresh rather than worn out. For visitors who want to cover ground while staying close to the ocean, this format hits a clear sweet spot.
What you’ll do and see
You’ll ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail south from Santa Monica, with the Pacific on your right the whole way. Guides point out key stops like the Santa Monica Pier, Muscle Beach, and the Venice Beach Boardwalk as you roll through. Most tours include a short walking segment near the Venice Canals.
The e-bike format makes a full santa monica and venice beach tour accessible to most fitness levels, including people who haven’t touched a bike in years.
Best for
This tour suits visitors who want active sightseeing without committing to a hard workout. It works well for:
- Casual cyclists who want the open-air feel without grinding through coastal headwinds
- Mixed-fitness groups who need a format everyone can keep pace with
- Travelers who want more access than a bus but more ground covered than a walk
Duration and logistics
Most guided e-bike tours on this route run 2 to 3 hours. Bikes and helmets are provided, and your guide walks you through the controls before you set off.
No prior e-bike experience is required, and the learning curve is short enough that most people are comfortable within the first five minutes.
Typical pricing in 2026
Standard group tours typically cost $50 to $80 per person. Private bookings run higher but give you flexible stops and a pace that actually matches your group.
3. Classic Beach Cruiser Bike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice
A classic beach cruiser tour gives you a slower, more grounded pace along the coast without any motor assist. You pedal alongside your guide on the beachside path that links both neighborhoods, which keeps the experience social and lets the scenery sink in properly. This format fits visitors who want the real beach town feel rather than a motorized shortcut.
What you’ll do and see
You’ll ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail south from Santa Monica to Venice, stopping at the pier, the volleyball courts, and the Venice Beach Boardwalk along the way. Most tours swing through the Venice Canals, a quiet residential stretch that sits just off the main beach path and surprises most first-time visitors.
This santa monica and venice beach tour format keeps you at eye level with everything, which means you catch details that a bus window or a faster ride would blur right past.
Best for
Cruiser tours work best for casual cyclists who want light activity woven into their sightseeing day. This format suits visitors who are comfortable on a standard bike and prefer a social, group-paced experience over a solo itinerary.
Duration and logistics
Most guided cruiser tours run 2 to 2.5 hours from start to finish. Bikes and helmets are included at the meeting point, and basic cycling ability is all you need before setting off.
Typical pricing in 2026
Group cruiser tours typically cost $35 to $60 per person, making this one of the more budget-friendly guided formats available. Private bookings are offered at a premium if you want a custom stop schedule.
4. Segway Tour Covering Santa Monica and Venice Highlights
A Segway tour gives you a different kind of mobility along the coast, faster than walking but slow enough to stop and take in what’s around you. You balance on the board and the guide handles the route, which means your attention stays on the scenery rather than on navigation. For a santa monica and venice beach tour, Segway tours cover meaningful ground without the effort of pedaling.
What you’ll do and see
Most Segway tours along this stretch start near the Santa Monica Pier and move south along the beachside path toward Venice. Your guide points out landmarks like the Venice Beach Boardwalk, the outdoor weight gym, and notable street art as you glide through. Some tours loop through residential side streets that connect the two neighborhoods.
The elevated vantage point on a Segway puts you slightly above street level, which gives you a clear sightline over the beachside crowds and lets you spot things that walkers miss.
Best for
Segway tours suit visitors who want active movement without the coordination required for standard cycling. This format works well for:
- Families with older kids who want something interactive and memorable
- Visitors with limited walking stamina who still want to cover both neighborhoods
- Groups who enjoy a slightly unconventional way to see the coast
Duration and logistics
Guided Segway tours on this route run 1.5 to 2 hours on average. A short training segment at the start gets you comfortable before the group sets off, and no prior experience is required.
Typical pricing in 2026
Most group Segway tours cost $50 to $75 per person. Private bookings and extended routes run higher depending on the operator and your group size.
5. Guided Santa Monica Pier Walking Tour With Local History
A guided walking tour focused on Santa Monica Pier gives you real depth on one of LA’s most recognized landmarks. Rather than snapping photos and moving on, you get the full story behind the pier’s history, the boardwalk’s evolution, and the neighborhood context that most visitors completely miss. This format keeps things slow enough to absorb everything.
What you’ll do and see
Your guide leads you along the Santa Monica Pier and surrounding beach area, covering the carousel building (which dates back to 1922), the Pacific Park amusement zone, and the storied fishing pier section at the far end. Most tours also walk the Third Street Promenade and a portion of the beachside path toward Venice, so you get a taste of both neighborhoods without the walking distance of a full santa monica and venice beach tour.
The history here goes deeper than most people expect, and a knowledgeable guide makes the difference between a pleasant stroll and one that actually sticks with you.
Best for
Walking tours work best for visitors who prefer a slower pace and want detailed storytelling over maximum ground coverage. This format suits travelers who are comfortable on their feet and value historical context over physical activity.
Duration and logistics
Most guided pier walking tours run 1.5 to 2 hours. No equipment or transportation is needed beyond comfortable shoes, and tours typically start at a fixed meeting point near the pier entrance.
Typical pricing in 2026
Group walking tours generally cost $25 to $50 per person, which makes this one of the most accessible options on the list. Private bookings run higher and offer custom pacing throughout.
6. Half-Day Coach Tour From Los Angeles to Santa Monica and Venice
A half-day coach tour removes the transportation headache entirely. You board at a central Los Angeles pickup point, ride out to the coast with a group, and follow a guide through both neighborhoods before the bus brings you back. This format works especially well if you’re staying downtown or near Hollywood and don’t want to deal with freeway driving or parking on the Westside.
What you’ll do and see
Coach tours on this route typically stop at the Santa Monica Pier, the boardwalk, and a section of Venice Beach that includes the outdoor gym and the street performer strip. Your guide delivers commentary during the ride and at each stop, giving you background on the neighborhoods and their place in LA’s broader story. This is a solid santa monica and venice beach tour for visitors who want coverage over depth.
You won’t linger as long at each spot as you would on a private tour, but you’ll hit the main landmarks without any logistical effort.
Best for
This format suits budget-conscious travelers who are comfortable with a group setting and a set schedule. It works particularly well for solo visitors or pairs who want a structured day out without coordinating their own transport.
Duration and logistics
Most half-day coach options run 4 to 5 hours including transit time. Pickup locations vary by operator, so confirm the meeting point when you book.
Typical pricing in 2026
Group coach tours generally cost $40 to $70 per person, making this one of the more affordable ways to reach both neighborhoods from central LA in a single outing.
7. Self-Guided Santa Monica and Venice Day Itinerary on The Strand
A self-guided day along The Strand gives you complete control over your pace and stops, with no guide fees and no group schedule to follow. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail connects Santa Monica and Venice in a straight, well-marked coastal path, making navigation simple even if you’ve never visited either neighborhood before.
What you’ll do and see
You start at Santa Monica Pier, walk or ride south along The Strand past the beach volleyball courts and Muscle Beach, and finish at the Venice Beach Boardwalk. A self-guided santa monica and venice beach tour lets you spend as long as you want at the Venice Canals, Abbot Kinney Boulevard, or any mural that catches your eye.
The Strand path is clearly marked and almost entirely flat, so you won’t need any navigation tools beyond a basic map on your phone.
Best for
This format works best for independent travelers who are comfortable choosing their own stops and don’t need someone to curate the experience. It suits visitors who have flexible schedules and want to move at their own pace without committing to a fixed itinerary.
Duration and logistics
A full self-guided loop covering both neighborhoods typically takes 4 to 6 hours depending on how long you linger along the way. You can rent a beach cruiser or e-bike from several rental shops near the pier for around $15 to $25 per hour.
Typical pricing in 2026
Your total cost depends on what you rent and where you eat, but most visitors spend $30 to $60 for the full day including bike rental and meals. No advance booking is required, so you can decide the morning of your visit.
Your Next Step
All seven options on this list give you a real way to experience both neighborhoods, but the right choice depends on how you want to spend your time. If you want someone else to handle the logistics and you prefer a private experience over a group schedule, a guided tour with a local expert gives you the most out of your day. If you’re comfortable going solo and want total flexibility, the self-guided Strand route costs almost nothing to pull off.
For visitors who want the most comprehensive santa monica and venice beach tour without any of the planning overhead, Another Side Tours brings together local expertise, private transportation, and storytelling that actually makes these neighborhoods make sense. You leave knowing the place, not just having photographed it. Check out our Los Angeles sightseeing tours to see current options, group pricing, and how to book your spot before your travel dates fill up.
